ISSUE 451 / APRIL 1, 2021 |
|
Incident Response Team (IRT) Updates |
|
What is the Incident Reponse Team (IRT)? This team meets regularly to review data and makes decisions about changes to the learning model. IRT Members are: Ted Anderson, Executive Director; Julie Alkatout, TCGIS Board Chair; Ashley Weston Miller, Dir. of HR and Operations; Monika Avery, Health Services Associate.
|
|
We closely monitor COVID case rates in the 5 counties from which TCGIS draws students. While cases rates are decreasing in Ramsey and Washington counties, they are increasing in Hennepin, Anoka and Dakota counties. Continue to take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 even if you are fully vaccinated: wear a mask, stay distanced from others, avoid gatherings, wash your hands often, stay home if you feel sick or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, and delay domestic or international travel. Your persistence will help keep our TCGIS community safe.
|
|
MDH & CDC strongly recommend against traveling; returning to school after spring break |
Given the high level of COVID-19 spread in many parts of our nation, any unnecessary travel is highly discouraged by MDH and the CDC. If you choose to travel out of state, your family will be expected to follow the CDC recommendations of testing both before and 3-5 days after travel. In addition, your family is expected to quarantine for 7 days upon return, even with negative test results. If a family member’s test comes back positive, you will be expected to follow the isolation guidelines in the decision tree. For more tips and things to consider when traveling, see CDC: Travel during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
No School-initiated Quarantine Week Following Spring Break
Unlike after school breaks in October and November, TCGIS does not have a 'quarantine' week planned following spring break. If your student will be home in self-imposed post-travel quarantine the week after break, please email [email protected] to report your student(s)' absence per regular TCGIS attendance policy. Your students absence will be considered excused. Please note: our teachers will not be expected to provide additional work or asynchronous work during your recommended quarantine period.
|
|
COVID-19 Testing for Kids and Families |
Teachers, school staff, and coaches are already getting tested regularly. We owe it to them to do the same. The new MDH recommendation is for all school-age youth returning to school, youth sports, or extracurricular activities, and their families, to get tested every two weeks through the end of the school year. While it is not a requirement, regular testing complements other safety measures already in place, such as masking and social distancing.
Schools and youth organizations can send messages and resources available on COVID-19 Testing for Kids and Families to families to encourage testing. By getting tested every two weeks from now until the end of the school year, we can help keep schools open and sports operating, and ensure we are limiting the spread of COVID-19.
It has never been easier to get tested. Testing is provided at no cost to you.
|
|
As always, please keep your student home when they are sick. If any member of your family tests positive for Covid-19, please contact Monika Avery and/or Ashley Weston Miller to review the MDH Decision Tree and support in contact tracing if necessary.
|
|
Note: If you don't see the calendar at the end of your Elternbrief, the message has been clipped and you must click "View entire message" to see the full Elternbrief. Danke!
|
|
Family Support Night Meet-Up: Tonight! |
**All parents, caregivers, etc., are welcome to attend**
Topic: Diversity and Belonging at TCGIS
Parent Council invites you to join us for our April Family Support Night on Zoom this Thursday, 4/1, from 7:30-8:30 PM. Members of the Diversity and Belonging Committee will join us to share work that is underway on several DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion) projects. This will be followed by an open discussion about this topic. We hope to see you tonight!
Mark your calendars for future Family Support Nights, the first Thursday of the month:
May 6: Family Support Affinity Groups
June 3: Supporting German Throughout the Summer
|
|
Survey Coming Soon: Post-COVID School Priorities |
Coming after spring break: Family, Staff, and Student surveys! Help TCGIS set priorities for post-COVID school! TCGIS Administration is collaborating with the Parent, Staff, and Student Councils to find out what our stakeholders want and need from the eventual "return to normal." Surveys will be followed by listening sessions in April and an all-council meeting in May. Make sure your voice is heard! |
|
Re-Enrollment Survey for All Current TCGIS Families |
Help us prepare for the 2021-2022 school year by completing our re-enrollment
survey! Please click here to fill out the survey by April 15. If you have more than one student at TCGIS, please submit one form for every child in your family who is currently in grades K-7.
Filling out this form is not required in order to attend TCGIS next year but it is extremely helpful for the school. We gather information about returning and withdrawing students to plan our class compositions for the next year. We appreciate your participation; thank you in advance!
|
|
Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) are in progress |
The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) season is in full-swing for 3rd-8th graders. You can find more information about MCAs in previous Elternbriefs or on MDE's website. The TCGIS MCA calendar is available here.
On the day students take their MCAs, they should bring:
- Their fully charged school Chromebook (if they have one)
- A snack and water bottle
- Comfortable headphones
- 1-2 sharpened pencils
- A book or drawing/coloring materials in case they finish early (note that it must be a paper book, not a Kindle or other device)
Parents and guardians have the right to refuse participation in MCA testing by filling out this form, which can be submitted in hard copy or email. Please submit this form at least 24 hours before your child’s first assessment so we have time to process it.
|
|
Order the 20/21 Yearbook! |
|
Share your feedback on the 2025 Strategic Plan! |
Dear TCGIS Families - we need your feedback! The Parent Council has created a survey to help gather parent community feedback on the TCGIS VISION 2025 Strategic Plan. Before taking the survey, please either view the plan by clicking on the following link: TCGIS 2025 Strategic Plan or view the recorded presentation about the strategic plan here: TCGIS strategic plan presentation.
Once you’ve seen the plan, please complete the Strategic Plan Parent Survey. The survey will take about 25 minutes to complete and will be open for two weeks, until April 11th. Thanks for taking the time to do this and ensuring that our parent voices are heard!
|
|
Coming Soon: A PTO-sponsored fun family activity |
Keep your eyes on the lookout for news of a great family outdoor activity taking place in May! It's safe and fun for all ages.
More information coming soon!
Our next (virtual) meeting will be Thursday, April 15.
|
|
Would you like to check out library materials? Fill out this form to get new materials for next week! There is now the option for in-school students to have their books delivered to their classrooms on Fridays.
Live Story Time
There will be no live Story Time over spring break. Join us for our next Story Time on Wednesday, April 14 at 2:45pm. Follow this link to tune in! (Zoom passcode: 040736). See our full story time schedule here.
|
|
TCGIS Sommercamp 2021: Register Now! |
Trying to find summer plans for your student? Look no further! This summer's camp themes include Circus, Sports, Art, Math, and more. It's a great way for them to practice their German over the summer! Click here for camp dates and descriptions.
Registration age is based on this school year. (i.e., If your child is currently in second grade, please register in the K-2 camps). Registration is also open to 2021-22 Kindergartners!
|
|
Summer Teen Intensiv for ages 14-18 at the GAI
|
This advanced full-day camp experience is for teens with level B1 German skills or graduates of TCGIS. We will dive into two important current topics in these week-long camps: Multiculturalism—what does racism looks like in Germany and how do young people deal with this topic, and Living the Sustainable Life—how does "Nachhaltigkeit" relate to nutrition, housing, education, and the digital world.
June 21–25: Multikulti? Multiculturalism and Racism in Germany
August 23–27: Living the Sustainable Life (#FridaysForFuture)
|
|
Summer Music Lessons with Vienna Arts |
Vienna Community Arts will continue to provide music lessons throughout the summer for new and continuing students. Please contact us at [email protected] for more information.
|
|
Holocaust Remembrance Event: April 8 |
Our school is committed to remembering the Holocaust and honoring the millions who suffered and died as a result of Germany's horrific genocidal policies. We are again invited to join people across Minnesota and the Dakotas in the Yom HaShoah Commemoration which will take place (virtually) on April 8.
6:00 PM - Name-reading ceremony led by families of survivors and community members
7:00 PM - Commemorative community service
The Yom HaShoah Commemoration is co-sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, Children of Holocaust Survivors Association of Minnesota (CHAIM), Temple of Aaron, Minneapolis Jewish Federation, St. Paul Jewish Federation, Generations After MN, and the Micki and Mort Naiman Holocaust Education Fund.
|
|
GAI Virtual Event: Learning from the Germans Book Talk |
Sunday, April 18 | 12:30–1:30 PM
Author Susan Neiman directs Berlin's Einstein Forum, a public think tank for the state of Brandenburg. She has lived in Berlin for most of her adult life but was born and raised in the southern United States. For this book, she spent three years interviewing people in both Germany and the United States. In her book, she asks what we can learn from the Germans about confronting past evils, the concept of Vergangenheitsaufarbeitung, “working off the past”, and how communities can come together to remember and move forward.
Free admission. Register here.
|
|
GAI Schnupperkurs: Intro to German Sampler Class |
Thursday, April 8 | 6:30-7:30 PM
Can you keep up with your kindergartener? You too can learn German. Try our sampler class for an introduction to how our classes work and to learn a few handy words and phrases. Registrants can take $10 off their session registration and we’ll throw in a coupon for a free beer (or other beverage) at our next GAI event!
$10 registration. Sign up here.
|
|
School Board Announcements |
|
March Board Meeting Recap |
The board met last Thursday and recognized our parent volunteers who serve as Eltern Kontakts, staff who organized the virtual St. Paul charter School Fair in support of many charter schools, and staff identified as champions of diversity and belonging at TCGIS. The presentation summarizing the recognition can be viewed here. The board heard a presentation on the TCGIS multi-tiered system of support for students’ academic success. The idea of designing interior spaces in our new building and subcommittee progress was also presented. The recording of the board meeting is available here.
|
|
Save the Date for Stakeholder Interviews |
Finalists for the position of executive director will be invited to the school for in-person interviews April 19 (Mon), April 20 (Tues), and tentatively if 3 finalists: April 22 (Thursday). Stakeholder focus groups will be invited to participate in the interviews, and ALL members of each stakeholder group are invited to attend and observe. The specific onsite details will be determined to meet COVID protocols and guidelines. Note: the parent stakeholder interview will be via Zoom to allow greater participation. The interview schedule will be announced after spring break.
|
|
Family Affinity Groups: Meetings Scheduled! |
Family affinity groups will meet for the first time via Zoom. Mark your calendars and join us! All are welcome to join any group.
Why affinity groups?
They uplift and empower the narratives and voices of its members.
Affinity groups equip families with the tools of courage, perseverance, and resilience in the face of microaggressions, stereotypes, racial bias, and the burden of representation endured by non-majority students.
These groups provide forums throughout the year for families to discuss experiences unique to their families, address issues, brainstorm ideas and initiatives related to diversity and belonging at TCGIS and in our wider community.
|
|
Special Board Meeting April 13th: Executive Director Search |
The board will convene for a special meeting at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, April 13th. The recruiting consultants from School Exec Connect will present the candidate profiles of the top 4-6 applicants for the Executive Director position. The board will confirm which candidates will be interviewed.The hiring committee interviews the selected candidates and recommends 2-3 finalists for the second round of interviews. |
|
Accepting Nominations and Applications for TCGIS School Board |
Click here to learn more and access nomination and application form.
Important Dates
April 12: All nominations and applications due by 4:45 pm.
TBD: Meet the Candidates Forum
May 10-14: Board elections, drop off all ballots by 4:45 pm on Friday, May 14.
|
|
Please email the committee email addresses listed below for each meeting’s login details. You can find links to the new committee charters here. All are welcome to join committee meetings!
|
|
German Tutors for TCGIS Students |
TCGIS has built a list of local university/college students interested in virtual private tutoring in German for TCGIS students. We update this Google spreadsheet of tutors regularly. Learn more here. |
|
Apr. 5-9: Spring Break
April 8: Holocaust Remembrance Event
April 11: Strategic Plan Parent Survey due
April 12: Board nominations and applications due
April 13: Special Board Meeting: Executive Director Search
April 15: Student Re-enrollment Survey is Due
April 15: PTO meeting
April 18: GAI Learning from the Germans Book Talk
April 19, 20, 22: Stakeholder Interviews
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
